Vertical retort for the carbonization of coal and like carbonaceous materials



May l2, 1936. F. J. WEST Er A'. 2,040,583

VERTICAL REToRT FOR THECARBONIZATION oF COAL AND LIKE` CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS Filed Nov. 3o, 1934 f 2 sheets-sheet 1 y i2, 21936. A F, J, WE ET AL 2,040,583 VERTICAL RETORT FOR CARBONIZATION 0F COAL AND LIKE cARBoNAcEoUs MATERI Filed Nov.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZA- TION OF COAL AND LIKE CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS pany of Great Britain Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,502 In Great Britain December 2, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention is an improvement in or modiiication of the invention described and claimed in Serial No. 701,198 filed 6th December 1933, and comprises an arrangement wherein the annular or ring like carbonization zone of the retort Which forms an enclosure for the combustion zones within, is divided up by vertical partitions into a plurality of separate sections, each with its own charging and choke discharging means. The vertical partitions may be continuations of the division walls between the combustion chambers and serve to transfer heat from the combustion chamber walls direct to the outer walls of Athe combustion zone and also to strengthen the complete structure.

The coke discharge doors may be disposed at the base of each section of the carbonization zone or at the base of cooling and steaming zones below the carbonization zone. Such doors may be hingedly mounted at the inner side of the annular carbonization zone so as to deliver the coke outwards.

Referring to the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation,

Figure 2 a sectional plan on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 a sectional plan on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 a sectional plan on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 of a vertical retort unit constructed and arranged in one convenient form in accordance with this invention. Figures 2 to 5 are drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of part of the base of the retort shown in Figure 1, this view showing a discharge door for one of the retort sections or divisions.

Figure 7 is a sectional side view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end View looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Figure 7.

The retort proper comprises the annular space divided into sections a, b, c, and d, by the division walls e, f, g, and h which are continuations of the division Walls separating the combustion chamber sections i, j, lc, and m. The centre boss like portion n from which the division walls radiate ensures that the combustion gases which rise up the space z'. y, lc, and m are kept in intimate contact with the inner wall o of the retort proper or carbonizing sections. The gas for combustion in the sections i, y', lc, and m rises up the centre passage p as shown by the arrow p', to the flame oriiices q, one for each section of the combustion space. Secondary air for combustion in the sections z', 1i, It, and m rises up the spaces r (see Figure 4) as shown by the arrow 1" in Figure l to the orifices s. Dust pockets t are provided at the base of the combustion chamber sections. These pockets can be emptied at intervals by removing the closures t.

Each section a., b, c, and d of the carbonirzing space has its own discharge door at its lower end. Figures 6, '7, and 8 are detail views of a discharge door u. This is pivoted to the two arms 'u fulcrumed at w at the inner side of the carbonization space. A hanging catch :n which may be spring loaded serves to support the outer side of the door independently of the arms v which are engaged by hanging catches y carried by eccen` tric pivot pins with handles z thereon by which the door can be tightened against the lower end of the retort.

Each section a, b, c, and d of the carbonization space is charged separately from a hopper or chute IE! supplied from a common coal bunker or hopper II by way of valve or damper controlled passages I2. I3 indicates compartments for containing coke breeze which can be fed into the hoppers I0 by valve or damper controlled passages I4. As will be seen by reference to Figure 3, slides I5 are provided to control the passages I2 and I4, each slide controlling two passages so that coal and coke cannot be fed simultaneously to the hopper Iii. The coke is fed into a retort section after it has been discharged so as to cover the discharge door u at the base thereof. The fuel supply inlet to each section d, bl, c, d of the annular carbonization chamber is controlled by a damper plate I6, see Figure 5, one damper plate being shown clear of the feed opening I1 of a carbonization or retort section.

'Ihe coal during carbonization passes down- Wards through the part-annular sections a, b, c and d as shown by the arrow al- The walls of these sections d, b, c, d diverge gently apart from one another from top to bottom of the retort.

The four gas-oltakes of the four sections a, b, c, .and d are shown at I8 in Figure 5. They lead to two collecting mains I9 which connect up to the foul main 2li. The burning gases pass up the combustion chamber sections as shown by the arrow y" and the waste gases from the top of the combustion chamber sections i, y', k, and m pass into a common space 2l and so to the waste gas ilue 22 as shown by the arrow 22a.

The carbonization sections a, b, c, and d form along with the division Walls e, f, g, and h a complete enclosure for the combustion chamber sections and no external heat is applied to the outer Wall 23 of the retort or carbonization sections, YWe thereby reduce radiation losses and increasefuel Y economy and eiciency. The Walls e, f, y, and h form heat conductors from the combustion chain bers to divide up the carbonization space so that a section of such space canrif desired be charged Whilst another is being discharged or a section can be kept out of service temporarily. The Walls Y or divisions e, f, g, and h also strengthen the structure against distortion. Y

The 'coke discharge means may 'be' varied as shown in our prior application previously referred and a series of radial partitions extending from a central hub WithinV the said combustion chamber tothe outer Wallof the retort and dividing said combustion chamber and annular carbonization chamber into sections, together withk means to supply combustible and secondary air to each of said sections of said combustion chamber and to remove flue dust at the base thereof and to withdraw products of combustion therefrom centrally above the top Vof said annular carbonization chamber, separate but cao-related means to supply material to be carbonzed or alternatively protective material such as coke breeze to ea'ch of saidsections of said annular carbonization chamber, means to-withdraw carbonized materialfrom the bottom of each carbonization chamber and to Withdraw gaseous products of carbonization from jthe top thereof, ea'ch of said carbonization cham-V Y ber sections having continuous, unbroken Walls Y which diverge radially apart from top to bottom of the section.

2. A bank of Vertical retorts for the carbonization of coal orthe like'comprising a vertical cylinder split up by radial partitions into a plurality of sectors each constituting a retort, each of the said'sectors comprising in order from the centre radially outwards a hub of fire resisting material, a single 'combustion chamber, a Wall inthe form of a portion of an annulus bounding said combustion chamber, a single carbonization chamber in,

the form of a segment of an annulus, and anV outer Wall in the form of a portion of an annulus free Vfrom external heating means, the said two Walls diverging one Vfrom another from top to bottom of said carbonization chamber, the said com- Y bustion chamber being furnished with means for supply of combustible and secondary air'and forY removal of flue dust at the base thereof and for removal of products of combustion at the` top thereof at a pointV above the upper end of the carbonization chamber, a single hopperto contain material to be carbonized, a second hopper to 'contain coke breeze or like material, means to place` either of said hoppers in connection With the'top of each retort to feedrmaterial thereto, means to Withdraw carbonized material from the bottom of said retort and means to remove gaseous products of carbonization from the top of said retort.-

FREDERICK JOSEPH WEST. ERNEST WEST. Y 

